The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-15
AFFAIRS OF ENGLISH
AUTHORESSES,

AFFAIRS OF ENGLISH
AUTHORESSES.
Hannah More's story is sufficiently in
teresting. When she and her sisters kept
a school in Bristol, she used frequently
to accompany two of their pupils to the
house of their cousin and guardian. a
Mr.. Turner, who lived near tine town.
He was attracted by the young authoress,
who was only twenty-five years of age,
very pretty and highly accomplished.
The conquest of his affections was prob
ably completed by an allegorical poem,
entiter "The Bleeding Rock" and sug-
gested to Hannah by some scenery in
his grounds. He proposed and was
accepted though he was twice her age.
He proved, however, lukewarm lover,
postponing the marriage again and again.
At last, when the wedding morning
actually arrived, he did not appear, but
sent instead note, excusing himself on
the ground that he could not bring his
mind to take such an important step as
marriagel
Hannah's friends were naturally indig-
nant, and she herself suffered both in her
feelings and in her pocket. Mr.. Turner
insisted on settling on her sum OF
$1,000 annually, which she was with diff
Guilty induced to accept. She seems to
have generously forgiven him for the in
jury, for she sent him copy Of each of
her books as published, and as her fame
rose he was wont to remark that the affair
had been overruled for her good. Every
day, in public or private, his first toast
was "Hannah More" and she was remem-
bered in his will, but they only saw each
other again once, by accident.
Miss Burney met M. d'Arblay, her
future husband, when he was staying in
Surrey, having taken refuge in England
from the horrors of the French Revolu-
ton. He was at the time actually ill
with grief for the execution OF Louis
XVI. He began to give Miss Burney
lessons in his native tongue, and it ended
in marriage. M. d'Arblay had abso-
lutely nothing in the world, and his bride,
who was forty-one years old, had only her
literary prospects and pension from her
having held the post of Maid of Honor.
Though writing that her own surprise
surpassed that of all her friends together
at this apparently indiscreet and insult
able marriage, Madame d'Arblay expert
enced great happiness during twenty
five years of welded life.
Mrs. Barbauld's husband, the Rev.
Rochmont Barbauld, was the descendant
of Huguenot refugee and the son of an
English chaplain at Cassel, in which
town he was born. Though destined for
the church, he was sent to the Dissenting
Academy at Warning ton, the headmaster
of which was destined to be his father
in-law. There, besides falling in love,
he imbibed such principles that he felt
compelled to run counter to his fathers
wishes and become Dissenting minister
The poverty which resulted from this
step long prevented what proved happy
union.
Lucie Austin made the acquaintance
of Sir Alexander Duff Gordon at Lans-
downe House. Their friendship was soon
talked of as likely to lead to something
else, and the rumors reached Sir Alex
ander's ears. He acted promptly, "Miss
AUSTIN" he said, "do you know people
say we are going to be married? Shall
we make it true?" Her answer was as
direct as his question, and they were mar
ried in Kensington Church in 1910.
Charlotte Bronte's marriage with the
long attached curate, Mr.. Nichols, was
delayed by her fathers pertinacious OBJ
jections to marriage in general and this
match in particular. Mr.. Nichols threw
up his curacy and left the neighborhood,
but Mr.. Bronte finally yielded, and the
wedding took place quietly in the little
church at Haworth, June 30, 1854. In
less than year the bells tolled for the
brides death, at the age of thirty-nine.
Letitia e. Landon received and &C.
cepted an offer Of marriage from Mr.
Foster, editor of the Examiner. No
sooner was the engagement made known
than many false friends began to assail
her character, and warn him against her.
He took the tales to her, and she indig-
nantly referred him to her female friends,
who eagerly reassured him. Quite salts
fed, he returned to his betrothed and
demanded an immediate marriage, but
she met him with the assurance that she
would never marry man who even
seemed to distrust her. There is no doubt
that in acting thus she disobeyed the
dictates of her own heart. She was aftert
ward induced to give her hand to Mr..
Maclean, governor of Cape Coast Castle,
with whom her welded life was short
and, it is TO be feared, unhappy.
Felicia Brown met Captain Hemans